Malaysia's central bank raised its key interest rate Thursday for a third time this year following “robust” economic activity in the second quarter. Bank Negara raised the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, saying “monetary policy continues to remain accommodative and supportive of economic growth.” “Recent trends in industrial production, financing activity, labour market conditions and external trade indicate that economic activity has remained robust in the second quarter,” it said in a statement. It said that despite volatility in international financial markets, the global recovery would continue, albeit with an increased risk that growth momentum could moderate. Malaysia said Friday its exports, the mainstay of the economy, had jumped 21.9 percent year-on-year in May due to stronger demand for electronic goods. The trade ministry said in a statement that shipments had risen to 52.3 billion ringgit (16.2 billion dollars), while imports were up 34.2 percent at 44.15 billion ringgit, producing a surplus of 8.14 billion ringgit. The increase was due to higher exports of electrical and electronic products, liquefied natural gas, crude petroleum, chemical products and palm oil, among others. Electrical and electronic items account for more than a third of Malaysia's total exports to markets such as Singapore, China, Japan, the United States and Thailand.